TCIAF is now proud to announce that ASTI will provide grants up to $2,000 to fund part- or full-day workshops around the country. Tree care companies are encouraged to apply for grants to fund safety training workshops in their area.

The goal of all ASTI workshops is to bring high-quality, affordable safety training to arborists around country. “Many smaller companies are unable to use all the valuable training tools currently available within our industry,” says Mark Garvin, president and CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), which oversees and administers ASTI grants. “These companies consequently place less emphasis on training and more on production. With ASTI, we want to make awareness of best safety practices more accessible for all companies.”

TCIAF is now set to begin funding a variety of safety training programs, encompassing specialties such as chipper operator basics, felling, rigging, chain saw safety, aerial lift operation and aerial rescue, and many other safety training disciplines.

The next grant application deadline is Aug. 15, 2015, for workshops held Feb. 1, 2016, through July 31, 2016. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and workshops will be held continuously throughout the year.

Over 50 donors contributed to ASTI, highlighting their commitment to ASTI and to improving safety within the tree care industry. “We would like to thank everyone who has demonstrated their commitment through their pledges to the Institute,” says Garvin. “The support of tree care companies, suppliers and distributors makes it possible for us to provide reasonably priced, quality safety education for the arborists who need it most.”